Real Madrid’s refereeing row masks deeper midfield and leadership problems

The controversy surrounding the refereeing after the Madrid derby has diverted attention from deeper structural weaknesses in Real Madrid’s performances, with the club still searching for a player capable of controlling games and directing their play.

Jose Mourinho devoted a significant part of his post-match news conference to criticising the officials after the defeat. Real Madrid also published its complaints on the club’s website.

The referee’s decisions may or may not have been justified, but the focus on them risks concealing a more fundamental issue. According to Sport, Real Madrid have been seeking a solution to their playmaker problem for more than two seasons, following the retirement of Toni Kroos.

Kroos’s departure left an unresolved gap at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have continued to struggle to find someone able to organise their football, bring calm to the side and determine where matches should be played.

The problem was identified during Carlo Ancelotti’s time in charge, but Xabi Alonso was also unable to resolve it fully. Mourinho has now inherited the same difficulty, and it is notable that his preferred central midfield pairing remains Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde.

That is not a criticism of either player’s ability. The question is whether their particular qualities are what the team needs most. Neither appears capable of solving the problem on his own.

Real Madrid’s failure to sign Rodri was a major setback in that area, particularly because the club subsequently abandoned its search for a player with similar characteristics.

Against Atletico Madrid, in one of the first significant tests of the season, Real Madrid again appeared vulnerable to opponents who could dominate for long periods and keep possession with considerable ease.

Mourinho’s limited options

Mourinho’s tactical choices also appear increasingly predictable. His need to field Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham places restrictions on his starting line-ups. The limited defensive contribution of the first two means the coach must compensate by selecting players with greater stamina and willingness to work, notably Tchouameni and Valverde.

The rest of the team must find ways to maintain its balance around the structural problems created by having three players who are effectively guaranteed places.

Mbappe presents another contradiction. His numbers are outstanding and there is no sense in questioning his goalscoring ability. However, he can be criticised for not yet displaying the leadership supporters expected from him in major matches.

There is a difference between accumulating statistics and becoming the player who decides important games while leading the team through personality and performance. Mbappe can sometimes appear focused on playing his own match; when circumstances turn against Real Madrid, he has not consistently been the figure capable of lifting the side and guiding it out of trouble.

Against Atletico Madrid, both Mbappe and Vinicius disappeared from the game. Between them, they managed no shots on target, lost possession 22 times and completed only 21 passes in the opposition half.

Vinicius’s situation is also affected by his contract renewal this summer on a large salary, especially given how long he has been absent from the spotlight.

A fading competitive edge

The attitude of some players offers little encouragement. In recent seasons, concerns have already emerged that Real Madrid have lost the competitive force that once allowed them to respond even when matches appeared to be slipping away.

Mourinho arrived with the aim of restoring that identity, but the derby once again showed a team struggling to react.

For that reason, concentrating all the attention on refereeing could prove dangerous for Mourinho’s project. Real Madrid can challenge a decision they believe harmed them while still asking difficult questions about the planning behind the team.

Mourinho was brought in to revive a project that had shown clear signs of fatigue. So far, however, the current Real Madrid side looks remarkably similar to the team seen during the previous two seasons.